2005 Harley-Davidson reviews

I have owned many motorcycles over the years but this is by far the best. With the Stage 1 upgrade & Screamin Eagle pipes, the acceleration is considerably increased - the top speed remains about the same, 105 mph indicated on my bike. Hydraulic lifters means no top end service work to do, plugs & battery accessible without having to take the tank off. Disks front & rear give good stopping power. Self cancelling turn signals! Very quiet belt drive. Nice gear box. Good handling. The seat which I thought would be uncomfortable over a long distance, isn't! The looks - you either love 'em or hate 'em, I love 'em! Can you tell I'm happy? Mike S Show less

I recently lucked into a 2005 with only 2700 miles on it, and I'm not looking back. Being bike-less for two weeks, and going through withdrawal, I narrowed my choice down to three bikes. I kept coming back to the Road Glide which I think is Harley's best kept secret. I like the idea of the frame mounted fairing as there isn't any wind pressure against the handle bars, and due to the aerodynamic fairing shape, she slices through the air like a stealth. Felt a little odd on my first turn-out because of the fixed fairing, but within ten seconds or less, I felt very comforable with this machine. The bike exceeded my expectations on all counts. I never want to get off this bike thanks to electronic cruise control, (every bike should offer this feature), comfortable seat, and a smooth running well balanced machine. Funny thing, when I owned the Road Star, a lot of folk would tell me what a beautiful Harley I have, and now that I have the real thing they just say, what a beautiful motorcycle that is Does that beat all out, or what? With all the instrumentation, I think you need a pilots license to fly this one. Hmm, where's the turn and bank indicator? When in slow traffic, the bike stays smooth as long as I keep the rpms above 2200. I also appreciate the fixed fairing which houses an entertainment package and two storage areas. The pick-up could be better, but if you want a bike that goes from 0 to 60 in less than 4 seconds, then get something else. On the other hand, if you want a smooth luxury ride with enough power to get you out of trouble, you'll be very happy with this one. My copilot also finds this machine very comfortable. Show less

Well, I've ridden my 05 FLHRCI for over a year now and it's time for an update. I had to change the seat and the handlbars and added a set of Screamn Eagle II slipons. I've made 4 long trips, (over 800 miles each) and the rest of the trips have been short to the Parkway and mtns of Tenn and NC. The bike is now perfect for me. It has plenty of power, good stopping brakes and hasn't missed a beat yet. The seat is a Sundowner Touring seat and the hbars are the roadking touring bars which puts me right where I want to be. Harley has done a good job with this bike and they will get the 07 issues straightend out soon. Show less

In 2005, I paid off my car and was looking to get a new car. I stopped by my local Harley dealership to get a part for my dad & saw the Springer Classic. I've always liked the Springers & decided that I was gonna get one. The older style ones always turned me off due to all the fringe on the bags etc., but this one caught my eye due to the 1940s styling(& the fact that my dream bike is a 48 panhead). It's based of the pan head so I said, why not pick it up? It took me about 800 miles to really get comfortable w/ the bike. I came from a Sportster so the bigger bike was intimidating at 1st but when I got used to it, it was awesome. The bike handles great. I love twisty curvy roads so when I ride I need a good handling bike. My only problem in this end, is the fact that the floorboards occaisonally drag. It's not a big deal for me but it can scare people. There is plenty of power from the 88 in twin cam V Twin. It accelerates well and with the stage 1 kit & screaming eagle pipes it has a throaty roar that isn't too annoying but will definitely let people know you are coming. My only major beef about the bike period, is the headlight. The light isn't very bright; in fact it's downright dim. It's also rubber mounted so it bounces like crazy. I got the auxillary head lamp kit which makes a world of difference ( it looks great too). Overall, this is a great bike. It's actually quite rare. You don't see very many of them on the road, and it always gets looks and waves. It's a great conversation starter at rallys or by the side of the road on a break. This is honestly one of the most beautiful bikes that Harley has ever made. I have almost 6K on it and look forward to tons more miles! Show less

One word--wow--This bike is so nice. I told my husband it is time we get Harley's and just this September, we did. I have always rode Honda's and this is my first Harley. I will never go back to a Honda. This bike is so easy to ride, low center of gravity make it a breeze. I have a windshild, bags, and sissy bar; which all are detachable. As for the engine, it has the stage 1 powercommander III done with the upgrade air cleaner and pipes. This bike has more then enough power, with a great sound. I really like the old school look of this Deluxe. Show less

Just sitting on an '06 Vrod at the Chicago show told me this was the bike for me. Highly manueverable, light, and lickity split fast, this bike is a blast. I have not ridden in 15 years, and technically, this is my first bike. I have no problem handling this bike although, while riding on the expressway, you do need to hang on to the front end - you get a bit of drift/draft with the full disc wheels (stock). Only negative is that my back gets a little sore with the stock seat after a few hours, and sure do wish that gas tank held 5. Show less

I have owned several motorcycles in my life, starting with a Honda Cub 50 back in the 60's. My wife and I wanted a bike that we could both ride on comfortably for long trips. We found it!! We have several 400 + miles days and I have got a couple of 600 mile days on this one. This is one fine motorcycle. I am amazed with the handling of this 800 lb motorcycle. I'm not saying that it will keep up with a crotch rocket in the obstacle course, but I'm more comfortable riding this bike than I am riding bikes half its size. I ride on interstates and in downtown Atlanta and this bike handles city traffic as well as being stable on the highway. It doesn't offer the wind protection that an Electra Glide offers, but it also doesn't have all of that extra weight on the handlebars. If you're looking for something you can ride two up for long distances and still be able to carve the canyons occasionally, this is the bike for you. Show less

I've had my Black and White Deluxe for a year now. Except for a flat back tire, I haven't had a problem with the Bike. I bought the short smoked HD windshield, it caused more buffeting than myself or my wife could handle. I bought a taller one and the problem went away! The bike handles like a dream which I believe is a result of the low center of gravity. I am fairly tall and contrary to most of the forums I find the bike very comfortable, although some Hiway pegs would give me another position to adjust to! I am still looking for some attractive pegs to buy that can be combined with the foot boards(not the engine guard type). Looking forward to more exciting cruising miles on the Deluxe, and am trying to talk my Wife into buying one as well. Next purchase will be the Stage 1 kit, not so much for more power but for some more sound! Show less

I bought my Deuce when I was downrange in Afghanistan and had it delivered to MN. This is my first Harley. Initially, I was very disappointed with this bike because it was popping through the carb and jerking when I rode it. It was quite embarrassing to be seen on such a nice looking machine when it was acting up like that. As it turns out the needle jet was defective and the HD shop rectified that problem. After that was dealt with, the bike ran like a champ. I was very happy with how the bike rode and handled after it was fixed. I logged over 2,500 trouble free miles after that point. The bike is no powerhouse but I didn't expect it to be so I wasn't disappointed by that fact. I have a 2006 GSXR-1000 so I have all the power I need if I am feeling the need for speed. I was initially aprehensive about the foot peg location on the Deuce but it turns out I was worried about nothing. The riding position after a few hundred miles starts to give me a cramp between my shoulder blades that annoys me but maybe a different set of bars would fix that situation. Overall I am very happy with this bike and I have plans to do quite a bit to it in the future to make it look the way I want. The main reason I bought the Deuce over the other models is because the Deuce looks good enough stock to leave alone for a while and the others don't. Oh yeah if I had it to do over again I would go with fuel injection as the enrichner knob is an annoyance to say the least. Show less

I have a 2005 Road Glide. I have had a couple HD baggers prior. This is the best HD tour bike. Handles better than the Ultra especially at low speeds. Problems have been the gas gauge and moldings around the fairing and windshield. Would prefer a higher windshield and the passenger does not like the factory seat. Could use better speakers and CB but it is okay. Would recommend the Road Glide to anyone considering a tour bike. Show less